"Worthy of a Transfiguration master. Even trigger-type spells have such power." Looking at the moving armour in the castle, Evans couldn't help but praise.
But Professor McGonagall's expression wasn't very satisfied.
"The effect is much worse. If I cast this spell on armour that has accumulated magical power over the years at Hogwarts, I should be able to create a true army of armour, not like now where they have trouble even walking."
After speaking, her gaze pierced through the mist to look at the second floor.
While the young wizards were dealing with the armour army, Cedric on the second floor seemed to have reached his limit.
The Lightning Charm and Swift-Travel Charm that Evans had embedded in the talisman had dissipated, and with his spirit already exhausted, he could no longer delay the Sphinx's steps.
However, he had bought enough time.
"Willing to sacrifice himself to create opportunities for the team's success. Such character is worthy of praise." Looking at the young wizard who was caught by the Sphinx due to exhaustion, Professor McGonagall couldn't help saying: "Are you really going to eliminate Cedric?"
"Of course not. He's one of my favourite students." Looking at Cedric being carried away by the Sphinx, a flash of brilliance crossed Evans's eyes.
"I only specified that to join the Magical Creatures Club, you need to have a badge at the end."
"But I never said this badge had to be obtained by the person themselves."
"Cedric's partner is still 'alive', isn't it?"
Cat Castle, Great Hall.
Five minutes had long passed, and boundless white mist spread again, blocking vision while eroding the young wizards' spirits.
As time passed and they lost the Philosopher's Stone's effect, another danger began to manifest.
"Roar!"
A beast's roar came from the Great Hall's main entrance. The Sphinx that had been chasing Cedric had completed its task and arrived at the Great Hall.
One Sphinx was responsible for capturing people, another for interrogation, and its duty was to assist in capturing while becoming the final boss of this assessment!
Although it should have arrived here the moment the Philosopher's Stone's effect disappeared, that young wizard was indeed impressive, delaying it for nearly ten minutes.
But now, it was time to fulfil its responsibility as the boss!
The moment they heard that roar, everyone fighting the armour felt their hearts sink.
The battle with the armour had already become somewhat difficult after losing the Philosopher's Stone's effect. If they added a Sphinx on top of that, could they really hold out until Harry and Ron completed the puzzle?
"How much longer?" Shattering an armour in front of him, Percy shouted.
"At least one minute!" Ron's voice came from the mist.
"One minute..."
Hearing the heavy footsteps and seeing the huge figure already looming in the mist, Percy didn't hesitate and quickly spoke:
"Close in on me. Strongest Protean Charms! It can't break through our defences immediately!"
As Percy's words fell, translucent barriers formed in front of him. As he thought, the Sphinx's first charge was completely blocked by the Protean Charms, but cracks appeared in the frontmost shields.
With the second charge, the front two layers of Protean Charms shattered, and both Wood and Percy's bodies went limp as they collapsed to the ground.
The Protean Charm was a spell that used all mental energy to form defences. Its shattering meant the wizard's spirit was completely exhausted.
Third time, fourth time. The young wizards casting Protean Charms fell one after another. They were running out of time.
Ignoring their companions falling like dominoes behind them, Harry and Ron carefully identified the blank spaces in the pattern, fitting appropriate pieces into the empty positions.
But when only a dozen blank spaces remained in the sky pattern, the Sphinx had broken through several young wizards' defences and charged toward their position.
Smack!
Ron and Harry, who were working on the puzzle, were swept aside by the fierce wind, and the puzzle pieces they'd been holding scattered on the ground.
The Sphinx's massive figure stood before the pattern like a stone statue, disrupting their plans.
So close. Just a dozen pieces left!
Looking at the dozen empty spaces in the pattern, then at the puzzle pieces scattered when he and Ron were swept aside, regret flashed in Harry's eyes.
If he'd been just a bit faster, they would have finished!
Seeing the angry yet unwilling expressions in those young wizards' eyes, a surge of satisfaction suddenly rose in the Sphinx's heart.
So this was what it felt like to be the villain?
Seemed... not bad?
Struggling to get up from the ground, Wood picked up his wand and aimed at the Sphinx standing before the pattern.
Just once. If they could just obstruct its movement, there would be a chance to complete those last dozen pieces!
"Petrificus Totalus!"
But after reciting the spell, only a spark shot from his wand tip. No magical light flashed.
With his Protean Charm shattered, his spirit was already exhausted; he had no ability to cast even a single spell.
But just then, an iron-blue light flashed past the Sphinx's ear.
A pixie picked up one fragment and placed it in its proper position, then was pinned down by the Sphinx that had reacted.
But having just stopped the pixie, a fragment silently floated up and quietly approached the puzzle, pressing into its designated spot.
A small silver-whitesnake, taking advantage of the Sphinx's inattention, crawled onto its body, coiling itself to cover one of its eyes.
A Bowtruckle jumped up, sending gold coins flying toward the Sphinx's other eye, forcing it to close both eyes.
Taking this opportunity, another Bowtruckle rushed to the puzzle and began continuously rolling up pieces from the ground, pressing them into their proper positions.
Three pieces, four pieces, five pieces...
Perhaps sensing something was wrong, the Sphinx opened its eyes, looked behind it, and swung its paw toward the Bowtruckle, but it was too late.
Green tendrils wrapped around the last fragment and, despite the Sphinx's incoming claws, pressed the piece into the final blank space on the image.
The swinging claws stopped, and the Sphinx let out an unwilling roar.
It hadn't had enough fun yet!
But the next second, it was enveloped in silver-white arcs of light and disappeared.
The pattern in the sky slowly faded. The badges that had been glowing silver-white gradually returned to calm, and with a soft click, they popped out of the slots and floated toward each young wizard who had participated in this final assessment.
One badge floated in mid-air for a long time before slowly settling on the Bowtruckle that had been knocked away.
As everyone received their badges, a line of text began appearing in the castle's mid-air.
Badge holders: Harry Potter, Percy Weasley, Penelope Clearwater...
Several names scrolled across that line of text, and when Harry saw the last name, his expression first showed surprise, then was completely filled with joy.
Cedric Diggory's partner.
Everyone passes!
You have successfully sealed the ancient mist and saved Hogwarts!